Ireland takes second place at Nations Cup

The Irish show jumping team bounced back with a vengeance at the five-star Nations Cup in Spruce Meadows, Canada, one of the biggest shows in the world.

Tying with Great Britain in second place on nine faults after the first round, the Irish team of Shane Sweetnam, Jennifer Crooks and Andrew Bourns then edged past the British team to take second place with a five-point advantage.

Germany, leading from the first round, consolidated their position and took the trophy on a 16-fault total.

With nine teams in contention, Ireland jumped sixth, and pathfinder Sweetnam on Amaretto Darco had one fault in each round, with Jennifer Crooks and SF Uryadi the team's discard score with an eight fault first round and 16 faults in the second.

Andrew Bourns with the Irish sport horse Roundthorn Madios collected five faults first time out, and improved in the second round with just one fence down and no time faults.

Anchorman Shane Breen and the Irish sport horse Cos I Can delivered a superb clear first round, but picked up five faults on his second attempt, to leave Ireland on a total penalty score of 22, well clear of Britain's 27.

After the show, Ireland's team manager Robert Splaine said: "This was a good performance over a tough course in a cup at top-league level.

"We were second to a strong German team who were better on the day.

"Importantly overall, I am pleased as I know we were good enough to win here tonight."